Null-ABC

by H. Beam Piper

There's some reaction these days that holds scientists responsible for war. Take it one step What happens if "book-learnin'" is held responsible...? A startling science fiction novel by H. Beam Piper (author of the classic LITTLE FUZZY) and John J. McGuire!

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

130 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Henry Beam Piper was an American science fiction author. He wrote many short stories and several novels. He is best known for his extensive Terro-Human Future History series of stories and a shorter series of "Paratime" alternate history tales.

Reviews

[B. Barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be my new favorite H. Beam Piper story.
It has a few assumptions I don't agree with, and it typically paternalistic and cigarette-filled, but it gets so many little things dead on, especially early in the story. Social and political aspects just as relevant today as they were 60 years ago or 200 years from now.
I would love to see a gritty, modern retelling of this on Netflix!

[SciFiOne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2019 grade C

It's the Literates verses the Illiterates in the 22nd century in this over long and wordy short novel. Actually it is one very complex battle in the long term plan to make everyone literate. But there are at least four or more factions doing the actual fighting in this battle and it gets rather confusing. The prose has quite a few much too long paragraphs and other areas that are just plain boring. I also never connected well with any of the characters.

It is an interesting concept and quite well executed otherwise, but I still cannot recommend it.

The story was in a Kindle Mega-pack.

[Janelle]

Dnf. I found this very hard to follow as an audiobook. There were too many characters and political factions. I didn’t enjoy the politics either.

[Wampuscat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was originally released as a two part serial novel in Astounding Science Fiction Magazine Volume 50 No. 6 & Volume 51 No. 1 in February & March of 1953. It is now in the public domain and can be found for free at Project Gutenberg or Amazon.

I was both surprised and delighted with this novella. The premise seemed silly at first, but I thought it would be fun anyway. I soon realized that, although the idea of Illiteracy becoming a preferred state of being and Literacy becoming anathema unless you were prepared to be ostracized, the story points to a deeper trend of human nature. People are going to be people no matter what the situation. Some will always tend toward laziness, gluttony & greed. Some will always tend toward pride, envy, and wrath. Others will try to overcome these tendencies when they become so prevalent in a society that they begin to infringe too much on the liberties of others. The fact that this story, as outlandish as it might seem on the surface, shows the progression of these tendencies in its characters based on their situations is why it was still a great read. It also has good timing that brings in the intrigue to keep pulling you in further with the reward of action to keep you wanting more.

This is an excellent read, with oddly humorous views of what society might be in the future (as of 1953) that are half-right & half-wrong at the same time. I highly recommend it!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, just read it, if you please! There's nothing I need to say about this story besides read it and see for yourself. It's actually enjoyable and it's also exactly what you'd expect from Piper and sons. The attention to detail is amazing and it handles speculative fiction relatively well, still with humor and cleverness throughout.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Literates concoct a nefarious scheme to take over the country from the Illiterates. Features election politics as a blood sport, climaxed by a pitched battle in a large department store. Not so funny in hindsight.

[Adam Windsor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly standard old school SF tale, very light on characterisation and rather familiar in its overall plot, though the setting, with its firm social separation of Literate and Illiterate society, was at least an interesting one, and uncomfortably calls to mind the anti-intellectualism seen today.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkably present and chilling piece of speculative fiction having been written in 1953. (Probably quite inspirational for a few contemporary authors we may all know as well.)

[Bill Hohl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Null-ABC explores a future society where intellectuals are the lower class in thrall to non-intellectual masters thanks to the results of a number of world wars. The first chapter is an interesting discourse of what being non-intellectual means. Interesting to note is that most of society can't read but relies on what can be considered picture books and emojis to continue civilization. The story includes an extended battle between rivals in brick and mortar store. The ending, however, is not unexpected. Still, the societal discussions are interesting if not too deep.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Product Description

Literate First Class Elliot C. Mongery, revealed by a quick left quarter-turn of the pickup camera, wore the same starchy white smock, the same Sam Browne belt glittering with the badges of the organizations and corporations for whom he was authorized to practice Literacy. The tablet on his belt, Pelton knew, was really a camouflaged holster for a small automatic, and the gold stylus was a gas-projector. The black-leather-jacketed bodyguards, of course, were discreetly out of range of the camera. Members of the Associated Fraternities of Literates weren't exactly loved by the non-reading public they claimed to serve. . . .

There's some reaction these days that holds scientists responsible for war. Take it one step further: What happens if "book-learnin'" is held responsible. . . ? Imagine a world where that bookish nerd over there really does have the power of life and death over everyone around him. . . !

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard action/political thriller from Beam, a bit more repetitive than some of his other works though. If you don’t mind his sometimes far-out stories then it’s quite an enjoyable vintage sci-fi. If you are new to H. Beam Piper start with Little Fuzzy, Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen, Space Viking, or Lonestar Planet.

[Tommy Carlson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, but ultimately forgettable. It takes place in a world where reading is met with derision by the masses while also being jealously guarded by a learned elite. It ain't no Fahrenheit 451, although it includes the usual Piper rootin'-tootin' gunplay.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing with sci-fi, is that you can write a story about any idea you like. While I found the idea behind this story interesting, it was still a little unrealistic, with regards to basic human nature.

[Gmc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Null-ABC , by H. Beam Piper

short story about a culture that believes only servants are supposed to read, and it is a crime to teach reading to the children of aristocrat's.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good story.